Whistler Skating Club on top at WinterSkate

A large team from the Whistler Skating Club headed to Winterskate in Aldergrove this past weekend, with some of the older skaters looking to qualify for the B.C./Yukon Sectionals.

In Elementary Women 9 and Under Group 3, Jandzeela Tompkins was fourth.

In Pre-Preliminary Women 11 and Over Group 1, Bryn Horner placed second, while Jaria Tompkins was third in Group 2, and Emily Cankovic, who was returning to competition after a sprained ankle, was sixth in Group 5.

In Senior Bronze Women Group 2, Rebek Robertson placed fifth, just missing a spot in the finals.

In Junior Silver Women, Samantha Shrimpton placed first overall.

She only passed her Pre-Novice freeskate test in December, and was no longer eligible to compete in the Senior Bronze category. In less than a month she added 30 seconds to her program.

As a result, Shrimpton will skate at the B.C./Yukon Territories Sectional Championships in Surrey on March 8. Her goal for that event is to add another double/double combination to her program.

Whistler Creek Athletic Centre turns 15/25

Nordic Twoonie hosts a classic

Tonight's Whistler Nordics Twoonie race, sponsored by Murdoch and Co., Scandinave Spa, Cross Country Connection, Opa and Arc'teryx, is a classic ski event around Lost Lake trails. Cross Country Connection is providing free rentals if you don't have classic skis.

The route starts at the Lost Lake ticket booth, goes around the north end of the lake, and back to the start line following trails on the other side of the creek. Elite and expert racers will make two laps for a total of 8 km, while recreational and junior racers will make one lap for a total of 4 km. The second part of the trail is not lit up, so headlamps will again be required.

The après party is at Opa in Whistler Marketplace. The cost is $2 for the race and refreshments, and you must be a member of the Whistler Nordics to take part. Memberships are available for $34 for adults and $22 for children, and includes registration in Cross Country B.C., and the ability to race in events like the upcoming Coast Cup and Whistler Loppet.

You will also need a valid Lost Lake ski pass.

The Jan. 22 event was sponsored by The BrewHouse, and 50 people took part.

In the elite men, the top three racers were Dave Burch, Duncan Munro and Edmund Burk. The top elite women were Maria Lundgren, Sylvie Allen and Lesley Clements.

For the girl's development team, Nicki Murdoch was first, with Akiko Clarke and Erin Davidson tying for second.

The boy's category winner was Jack Iles, followed by Braden Metza and Max Peiffer.

For the girls it was Jennifer McTavish, followed by Bobbi Douglas and Gabby Smith.

Biathlon Twoonie ready for crowds

Some 140 people turned out the Jan. 11 Salomon Biathlon Twoonie race at Whistler Olympic Park, more than double what they expected.

For the second race on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Whistler Olympic Park, organizer Duncan Munro is ready for a big crowd.

"We're getting more rifles from the West Coast Nordics, and a couple of other biathlon enthusiasts in the area, so we will have rifles this round," he said. "There weren't any real problems last time once the field spread out, but we ran out of food and refreshments, and it was a lot more chaotic at the start."

There will be two categories, elite and recreational. The elite racers will do one lap of a 4 km loop before hitting the shooting range the first time, then another lap of a 3.3. km loop before shooting a second time. Skiers will have to do penalty laps of a 120-metre loop for every target they miss, up to a maximum of three laps.

Recreational skiers will do two laps of the 3.3 km course, also shooting after each lap.

The event is open to men and women, boys and girls, classic skiers and skate skiers, regardless of experience. The cost is $10 to enter, including refreshments.

Quest Kermodes host Camosun College

The Quest University Kermodes basketball teams are hosting the Camosun College Chargers men's and women's teams for back-to-back games this weekend.

On Friday, Jan. 30, the women will play at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m., and on Saturday the women will play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m.

All events are free to the public, and the teams could use a little support. On the women's side the Chargers currently lead the league with a 10-1 record, while the Kermodes are sitting in seventh with a record of 3-7.

The men's team, which is winless in 10 games, will have a better chance with the Chargers ranked one spot ahead in ninth with a record of 2-9. Both teams have scored a similar number of points per game this season, although the Chargers have a slight edge in defence.

For more information or directions, visit www.questu.ca.

Top freestylers and snowboarders take on Blackcomb halfpipe

The B.C. Freestyle Ski Association and B.C. Snowboard Association are sharing the halfpipe on Blackcomb this weekend, as the two organizations hold back to back contests on Jan. 30 and 31.

For snowboarders, registration is open until 8 a.m. on event days, and the contests gets underway at 10 a.m. More information is posted at www.bcsnowboard.com.

Registration for the ski halfpipe, which is part of the B.C. Freestyle Ski Series but is open to anybody, is at www.bcfreestyle.com. They will also compete at 10 a.m., physically sharing the pipe with the snowboarders.

It's a rare opportunity to compare the two sports, and spectators are welcome.